ISIS Has Lost Many of the Key Places It Once Controlled

The Islamic State was able to carve out a sprawling territory across Iraq and Syria through military dominance over 126 key places. But the group’s momentum has slowed over the past year, and it has lost its hold on nearly half of those locations.

As the militant group has been squeezed in Iraq and Syria, there are signs that it has been shifting its focus from controlling territory to executing terror attacks in Iraq and abroad.

Out of 10 Cities, the Islamic State Remains in Five

The group has been forced out of about 56 places where it once had control, including five major cities, since it made rapid advances across the two countries in 2014.

Three miles

Abu Ghraib

Lost by ISIS in February 2016

Half mile

Lost by ISIS
in February 2016Feb. 2016

Baquba

Lost by ISIS in September 2014

Half mile

Lost by ISIS
in September 2014Sept. 2014

Deir al-Zour

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

Half mile

Falluja

Lost by ISIS in June 2016

Half mile

Lost by ISIS
in June 2016June 2016

Manbij

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Half mile

Mosul

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Half mile

Ramadi

Lost by ISIS in January 2016

Half mile

Lost by ISIS
in January 2016Jan. 2016

Raqqa

Captured by ISIS in January 2014

Half mile

Tikrit

Lost by ISIS in March 2015

Half mile

Lost by ISIS
in March 2015March 2015

Tal Afar

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Half mile

In June 2014, the Islamic State stunned the world when it seized Mosul, by far the largest city it controls, from Iraqi soldiers who dropped their weapons and fled.

But the group’s momentum has shifted. “The caliphate has been crumbling at the edges,” said Columb Strack, a senior analyst at IHS Conflict Monitor, an organization that has been tracking which cities and towns make up the militant group’s territory.

Iraqi security forces regained control of Ramadi in January after months of battling Islamic State fighters there. Many homes in the city were destroyed or rigged with explosives during the fighting, and most residents have yet to return.

The Syrian government is fighting to remove the Islamic State from parts of Deir al-Zour. If the government succeeds, the militants will lose a crucial connection between their strongholds in Raqqa and Mosul, making it more difficult for them to move quickly to defend territory, Mr. Strack said.

The Militants Capture Infrastructure and Resources to Generate Revenue

As they seized cities, Islamic State militants also captured valuable resources like oil fields and hydroelectric dams, which have helped them generate income. The group’s oil and gas revenue is down 26 percent since last year but still adds up to about $23 million a month, according to IHS.

Half mile

Akashat Phosphate Mine

Lost by ISIS in May 2016

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in May 2016May 2016

Baath Dam

Captured by ISIS in January 2014

500 feet

Alas Oil Field

Lost by ISIS in May 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in May 2015May 2015

Mosul Dam

Lost by ISIS in August 2014

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in August 2014Aug. 2014

Deiro Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Tanak Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

Shula Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Omar Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

Al Ward Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

Baiji Refinery

Lost by ISIS in October 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in October 2015Oct. 2015

Al Badia Cement Plant

Lost by ISIS in April 2016

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in April 2016April 2016

Ajeel Oil Field

Lost by ISIS in May 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in May 2015May 2015

Furat Dam

Captured by ISIS in January 2014

500 feet

Kabiba Oil Field

Lost by ISIS in February 2016

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in February 2016Feb. 2016

Al Taim Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Qayara Oil Field

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Shaer Gas Field

Captured by ISIS in November 2014

500 feet

T1 Pumping Station

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

T2 Pumping Station

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

T3 Pumping Station

Captured by ISIS in May 2015

500 feet

Tishreen Dam

Lost by ISIS in December 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in December 2015Dec. 2015

The Islamic State’s three largest oil fields — Omar, Tanak and Al Taim — are all in Syria and together produce an estimated 13,500 barrels of oil per day.

The militants captured Mosul Dam in August 2014. American officials had expressed fears that the militants might intentionally damage the structure, flooding several cities and endangering more than a million people. But Iraqi and Kurdish forces retook the dam after two weeks.

The Group Has Maintained a Nearly Continuous Hold Along the Euphrates River

North

Rawah

Deir al-Zour

Hit

LOST

LOST

Al-Baghdadi

LOST

Mayadin

Asiriyah

Tabqa

Al-Qaim

Baghdad

IRAQ

SYRIA

25 MI

North

Rawah

Deir al-Zour

Hit

LOST

LOST

Al-Baghdadi

LOST

Mayadin

Asiriyah

Tabqa

Al-Qaim

Baghdad

IRAQ

SYRIA

25 MI

North

Rawah

Hit

LOST

Deir al-Zour

LOST

Al-Baghdadi

LOST

Mayadin

Asiriyah

Tabqa

Al-Qaim

Baghdad

SYRIA

IRAQ

25 MI

North

Rawah

Deir al-Zour

LOST

Al-Baghdadi

LOST

Mayadin

Tabqa

Asiriyah

Hit

LOST

Al-Qaim

Baghdad

SYRIA

IRAQ

25 MI

North

LOST

LOST

LOST

Baghdad

SYRIA

IRAQ

50 MI

The Islamic State has contested or controlled many towns along the Euphrates River since as early as January 2014, giving them access to important roads and infrastructure that connect their territory across Syria and Iraq.

The town of Mayadin, which in 2004 had a population of about 44,000, is important to the Islamic State as an uncontested administrative center that is close to one of its major oil fields.

Half mile

Ayyash

Captured by ISIS in January 2016

500 feet

Asiriya

Lost by ISIS in March 2016

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in March 2016March 2016

Ashara

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

Maadan

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Kasra

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Maskana

Captured by ISIS in January 2014

500 feet

Saqra

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

One mile

Rawa

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Quarter mile

Hit

Lost by ISIS in April 2016

Quarter mile

Lost by ISIS
in April 2016April 2016

Abu Kamal

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Quarter mile

Karama

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Quarter mile

Tabqa

Captured by ISIS in August 2014

Quarter mile

Baghdadi

Lost by ISIS in March 2015

Quarter mile

Lost by ISIS
in March 2015March 2015

Mayadin

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

Quarter mile

Qaim

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Quarter mile

The Islamic State Is Fighting to Keep a Key Corridor to Turkey

10 MI

Kobane

LOST

TURKEY

Qamishli

Tal Abyad

LOST

Tal Khanzir

LOST

Jarabulus

Ghabsha

LOST

Kafr Ghan

Tel Hamees

LOST

Al-Ra'i

Izaz

Sarrin

LOST

Suluk

LOST

Mabrouka

LOST

Dabiq

Manbij

Harbul

Hasakah

Al-Bab

Ayn Issa

LOST

SYRIA

Aleppo

10 MI

Kobane

LOST

TURKEY

Qamishli

Tal Abyad

LOST

Tal Khanzir

LOST

Jarabulus

Ghabsha

LOST

Kafr Ghan

Tel Hamees

LOST

Al-Ra'i

Izaz

Sarrin

LOST

Suluk

LOST

Mabrouka

LOST

Dabiq

Manbij

Harbul

Hasakah

Al-Bab

Ayn Issa

LOST

SYRIA

Aleppo

25 MI

TURKEY

Kobane

LOST

Qamishli

Tal Khanzir

LOST

Jarabulus

Tal Abyad

LOST

Kafr Ghan

Tel Hamees

LOST

Sarrin

LOST

Al-Ra'i

Dabiq

Suluk

LOST

Mabrouka

LOST

Manbij

Harbul

Hasakah

Al-Bab

Ayn Issa

LOST

SYRIA

Aleppo

25 MI

Kobane

LOST

Qamishli

TURKEY

Jarabulus

Tel Hamees

LOST

Sarrin

LOST

Ghabsha

LOST

Suluk

LOST

Manbij

Hasakah

Al-Bab

SYRIA

Aleppo

Kobane

LOST

25 MI

TURKEY

Tel Hamees

LOST

Hasakah

Suluk

LOST

Manbij

SYRIA

Aleppo

After losing a monthslong battle with Kurdish forces for control of Kobani, a key Syrian town on the border with Turkey, the Islamic State was quickly pushed out of a large stretch of northern Syria.

Now, the Islamic State is fighting to hold onto a strategic corridor at the Turkish border that allows their people and goods to move between the two countries.

Half mile

Dabiq

Captured by ISIS in August 2014

500 feet

Al Ra'i

Captured by ISIS in February 2014

500 feet

Harbul

Captured by ISIS in August 2015

500 feet

Ghabsha

Lost by ISIS in May 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in May 2015May 2015

Ayn Issa

Lost by ISIS in June 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in June 2015June 2015

Kafr Ghan

Captured by ISIS in April 2016

500 feet

Mabrouka

Lost by ISIS in May 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in May 2015May 2015

Suluk

Lost by ISIS in June 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in June 2015June 2015

Tal Abyad

Lost by ISIS in June 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in June 2015June 2015

Tal Khanzir

Lost by ISIS in May 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in May 2015May 2015

Tel Hamees

Lost by ISIS in February 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in February 2015Feb. 2015

One mile

Jarabulus

Captured by ISIS in January 2014

Quarter mile

Al Bab

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

Quarter mile

Kobani

Lost by ISIS in January 2015

Quarter mile

Lost by ISIS
in January 2015Jan. 2015

Sarrin

Lost by ISIS in August 2015

Quarter mile

Lost by ISIS
in August 2015Aug. 2015

The Militants Often Capture Weapons Along With Military Bases

Many of the weapons used by Islamic State fighters have come from military facilities that the group has seized from the Iraqi and Syrian governments.

In January, the Islamic State had its largest weapons windfall when it took control of the Ayyash Arms Depot in Syria, capturing an estimated two million rounds of ammunition, 9,000 grenades and 100 antitank missiles.

But the group has not always taken full advantage of military seizures. Despite capturing a number of air bases, there is no evidence that they have flown any planes.

Half mile

Al Muthanna Chemical Weapons Facility

Lost by ISIS in October 2014

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in October 2014Oct. 2014

Ayyash Arms Depot

Captured by ISIS in January 2016

500 feet

Abu Allaj Checkpoint

Lost by ISIS in June 2016

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in June 2016June 2016

121st Regiment Artillery Base

Lost by ISIS in November 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in November 2015Nov. 2015

17th Division Army Base

Captured by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

Kilo 160 Checkpoint

Lost by ISIS in April 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in April 2015April 2015

Camp Ashraf

Lost by ISIS in July 2014

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in July 2014July 2014

Durayhib Military Base

Captured by ISIS in 2014

500 feet

Kisik Military Base

Lost by ISIS in January 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in January 2015Jan. 2015

Kweiris Air Base

Lost by ISIS in November 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in November 2015Nov. 2015

Mheen Arms Depot

Lost by ISIS in December 2015

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in December 2015Dec. 2015

Samarra East Air Base

Lost by ISIS in December 2014

500 feet

Lost by ISIS
in December 2014Dec. 2014

Tabqa Air Base

Captured by ISIS in August 2014

500 feet

Tal Dakwa Outpost

Captured by ISIS in February 2015

500 feet

Tallat Na'imat

Captured by ISIS in July 2015

500 feet

Waleed Border Crossing

Captured by ISIS in June 2014

500 feet

Territorial Losses Mean that the Islamic State Is Making Less Money

The Islamic State has lost about 45 percent of its territory in Syria and 20 percent in Iraq since the peak of its control in August 2014, according to estimates by American officials. With every town and village that is lost, the group also loses income that comes from taxes and fines.

After years of conflict, there are no current population figures for these places. But based on preconflict census data and government estimates, the places that the group has contested or controlled once had a combined population of at least 3.7 million people.